Shocking things mums know about their children – that their children think are a secret﻿

Sneaking out past curfew or spending your lunch money on chocolate
– most of us will pull the wool over our parents’ eyes once or twice growing
up. But, as the UK’s family stem cell bank StemProtect.co.uk has seen, some
mums are wise to their offsprings’ secrets – even those which are shocking and
surprising.

Some are on the tamer
end of the scale – with one mum noticing that her son wasn’t eating his
lovingly-made packed lunches at school. Finding that he’d forget what fillings
he’d been given that day, she put two and two together when his pocket money
went missing – presumably spent on more exciting (or sugary) snacks.

However, more worryingly, one mother said she was well aware of
her teenage daughter’s drinking, adding that while her wily teen thought she
was being subtle upon her return home, the swaying and slurred speech had given
her away. The exasperated mother added: “I don’t want to confront her because
at least I know she’s coming home – if she tried to start hiding it more by
staying over at a friend’s, I’d be more concerned.”

One sweet tale was shared by a mother who said she knew her son
was gay – but was giving him the space he needed to come out. “I couldn’t be
happier,” she added, but said that she wanted to ensure there was no pressure on
him to talk to her about it if he didn’t want to.

A sneaky fourteen-year-old who think she’s pulled the wool over
her mother’s eyes would have a shock if she knew that her secret boyfriend was
not so secret. “I’ve spotted them out and about together – but she would be so
embarrassed if I knew,” the mother of the lovestruck teen laughed.

Think your parents don’t know about your hidden ink? Think again! One
disapproving mother has caught a glimpse of the tattoo her son has valiantly
attempted to hide from her, but says she ‘wouldn’t want to cause an argument’
by bringing it up.

A thought that would
strike fear into the hearts of many a young person – their parents having
access to their internet habits. But for one unlucky teen, her mother knows
exactly what she’s up to, after glimpsing her username on a popular forum. “I
try not to check it because I believe in trusting her,” her mum confessed, “but
sometimes the curiosity gets the best of me!”

One wily teenage girl
may think she’s managed to hide her expensive habit of taking taxis to school
when it’s raining from her mum – but mum knows best, thanks to the taxi firm’s
app being linked to her bank card.

Even the most attentive parent might admit to relying on YouTube
for a little peace and quiet occasionally – but one amused mum says she knows
all about her toddler’s secret browsing. “She thinks I don’t know she’s
sneaking my phone off the bedside table when she comes for a cuddle in the
morning – but of course, she’s too little to realise I can hear her singing
along to nursery rhyme videos!”

Many parents would be
disappointed to find out their offspring had taken up smoking – and a
crestfallen mum found out the hard way, by finding a lighter in her son’s
laundry basket. “He thinks he’s managed to cover the smell with cheap
aftershave, but it’s obvious,” she added.

One worried mum has kept quiet about finding her daughter’s fake
ID used for getting into nightclubs – despite only being fifteen years old. “It
concerns me, of course – but the forgery is so bad I think it’s only a matter
of time before she’s caught and learns a hard lesson.”

“Children often think they’re pulling the wool over their parents’
eyes when, in reality, their parents are painfully aware of what their little
ones are up to. It can be quite shocking for parents to learn that their once
sweet youngster is now almost an adult – and it’s natural to worry about their
safety and health.

“But most of us will also remember being a child or teen
ourselves, and the things that we in turn hoped our parents didn’t know; a
little discretion can go a long way and avoid your child becoming defensive or
secretive. Encouraging honesty and openness in your family will make a huge
difference when your child needs a listening ear or some parental advice – but
unless your child is in danger, turning a blind eye can often give them room to
learn as they navigate the world.”